Are pet shops allowed to sell puppies?

Storm_rages

Was in a pet shop today and saw some puppies for sale. I was under the impression that it was illegal for pet shops to sell puppies and to be honest I've never seen puppies for sale in any other pet shops.

Am I mistaken? Surely this is not the best way for dogs to find homes.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Of course Pet Shops sell pets!

As for it being the best way for dogs to find homes - that's another debate. But, of course Pet Shops sell dogs. Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

animalcrazy

Ignacio Famous Buttermilk wrote: »

. But, of course Pet Shops sell dogs. Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

So if they don't sell dogs then they aren't much of a petshop? I have never seen a puppy/dog for sale in a petshop in my live and hope I never do, petshops who sell puppies are supplied by puppy farms, a petshop that doesn't sell dogs is a great petshop to me.

Duzzie

Unfortunalely yes they are. After visiting a shop in Dublin and being surprised to see puppies on sale, we contacted the DSPCA about it. They confirmed that as long as then puppies are being kept in suitable enclosures and being properly looked after, the shop is within their rights to sell them. Personally I think it is very wrong but thats the law.

Whispered

Ignacio Famous Buttermilk wrote: »

But, of course Pet Shops sell dogs. Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

I've never seen a pup for sale in a pet shop.

00112984

I've seen puppies in petshops in the States but never over here and I really hope it's not going to become more common.

Frankly, if I saw puppies for sale in my local petshop, I'd ask to speak to the manager and explain that I'm going to take my business to a store that doesn't stock puppies.

Vote with your wallets but tell the powers that be why!

Storm_rages

Yea, this was a pet shop in Dublin. Srameen, i am well aware that pet shops do indeed, surprisingly enough sell pets but as someone who enjoys going to pet shops (i really need a better past time) I have never seen puppies for sale in Ireland.

I know there are worse things in the world for a dog (the pound for example) but it does bet the question what happens these puppies when they stop being puppies and are not sold?

The Sweeper

Personally I think petshops manage to make puppy sales because the puppies always look so bloody miserable that some bleeding heart will react by buying them to take them home out of the place. Put that with the fact that buying a puppy from a petshop is, to me, probably a total impulse buy, prompted by the need to rescue the dog. Subsequently I wouldn't be surprised if pet shops make their money off selling the puppy... Plus a dog bed, dog bowls, a lead, and anything else they can shift off on this poor stooge who had no intention of owning a dog until they walked past the store.

MissyN

Oh GOD I would HATE to see puppies for sale in a petshop.
Vile vile vile.

GeturGun

It's probably the same pet shop I was in just before Christmas and there was one puppy on it's own in a (as far a i know) newly built glass room. The poor thing looked so lonely and miserable that I literally would have bought it if my circumstances allowed!!! Exactly as described here...............

Minesajackdaniels wrote: »

some bleeding heart will react by buying them to take them home out of the place.

I was appalled to be honest and the poor thing looked terrified with everyone looking in and knocking on the glass. Then as I was leaving someone came in delivering 2 big crates with more puppies piled into them looking filthy and miserable. Even some toddler who bent down to have a look exclaimed "EWWWWW THEY STINK" Shocking. I'm not going to go back there ever, will get my kitty food elsewhere. I was thinking about those poor puppies for days.

Storm_rages wrote: »

what happens these puppies when they stop being puppies and are not sold?

Exactly what I was thinking that day.

Gazza22

This is becoming more and more common! I first seen pups for sale in a petshop in south Dublin a few weeks before Christmas and since then there has been a growing trend at least in Dublin.

2qk4u

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

ronbyrne2005

In theory it could be acceptable if it was regulated and puppy farms controlled.

Weidii

They should have to buy the pups they sell from sanctuaries.

Duzzie

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

In theory it could be acceptable if it was regulated and puppy farms controlled.

Even simple things like the control of dangerous animals can not be done here, what chance is there of controlling puppy farms?? AFAIK, the staff in the shop in question are very much against selling puppies and a number of them have left. The owner wont tell the staff where the puppies came from and if he wont tell them, what chance does a customer have of knowing the background of the puppy they are buying.
=

2qk4u wrote: »

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

They are exactly the same arent they. There are thousands of cute mini coopers in car pounds that were bought as impulse buys in car shops only to be thown out a few weeks later. Not forgetting the terrible conditions of them car farms and the over breeding of the parent minis.

Rory123

There's a pet shop in Drogheda that sells puppies.
This is not an insult to other animals or their owners but it is my opinion that dogs are just far too intelligent and emotionally advanced (unlike, for example, fish, rabbits, birds etc) to spend the first part of their life in a petshop.

Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

... this is either a very obvious wind up to get people angry, or its quite possibly one of most inaccurate, dumbest things I've ever read on Boards!

MissyN

Rory123 wrote: »

There's a pet shop in Drogheda that sells puppies.
This is not an insult to other animals or their owners but it is my opinion that dogs are just far too intelligent and emotionally advanced (unlike, for example, fish, rabbits, birds etc) to spend the first part of their life in a petshop.



... this is either a very obvious wind up to get people angry, or its quite possibly one of most inaccurate, dumbest things I've ever read on Boards!

I agree on part 1 and definitely part 2 Rory123.

00112984

Dogs (and cats) especially need to be socialised from a young age- more so than rabbits, birds etc.

A puppy growing up in a petshop having people knock on his box is not going to be a happy, friendly dog. He's going to be nervous and not used to bonding with people- a big reason that hundreds of mature dogs are marked for euthanasia in pounds each week.

I presume that these puppies are being sold as pedigrees as I imagine that's where the cashcow comes in (someone happier to part with several hundred for a pure bred than a cross)? How are microchips and club registrations kept clear? As in, if you have twenty puppies in stock and 14 of them are, say, rough collies from three different litters, how do you know the papers you get are for the right pup? If there's a mix-up, you could end up with inbreeding down the line.

I can't see a petshop getting a vet to constantly vaccinate and worm the puppies so cross-contamination is rife.

animalcrazy

2qk4u wrote: »

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

This is a very stupid statement, there is a big difference between a piece of metal and a living puppy. The puppies sold in these petshops come from puppy farms, in bad conditions where the dogs are overbred and often don't receive adequate vet care. Like, other posters have said, the puppies are often bought on impulse, which means the new owner would have done no research as regards to health and training. Often, the puppies grow up to be misbehaved and are put into pounds or dumped.

So imagine if more and more petshops began to sell puppies, since there is ''nothing wrong with it'', puppy farms produce more puppies which means bigger farms and more cruelty and neglect on the farms. The more puppies in the shops, the more customers and then more abandoned dogs, and we certainly have enough of those.

bigpinkelephant

The worst part is that people feel sorry for the puppies and buy them to "rescue" them- which simply puts more money into the puppy farmers hands.
The pet shop owner isn't going to care that 10 of the puppies he sold this week were sold because of people pitying them. If people are buying the puppies, he's going to keep ordering them, which means the puppy farms will keep breeding them.

Honey-ec

Is there a particular reason why we can't name the shops?

My sister is going out with the brother-in-law of the owner of the big Dublin shop currently doing this. I had a word with him (the BIL) and asked him to speak to the owner about how abhorrent a practice this is, and he said there's absolutely no point in him saying anything, as the owner couldn't give a sh*t.

Pretty much sums up the attitude of most people involved in the puppy industry in Ireland. Including the Government, sadly.

Our man in Havana

What about the poor pet shops that do not buy puppies & kittens but rather find them dumped on the doorstep - what should these shops do? Rehome them & ask for a small donation that goes to a rescue group or simply hand them into the local pound where they will most likely be euthanised??

Rory123

Bond-007 wrote: »

What about the poor pet shops that do not buy puppies & kittens but rather find them dumped on the doorstep - what should these shops do? Rehome them & ask for a small donation that goes to a rescue group or simply hand them into the local pound where they will most likely be euthanised??

Does this actually happen?

Our man in Havana

Rory123 wrote: »

Does this actually happen?

Yes it does! Move often than I would like it to happen! My local pet shop works blooming hard to tame & socialise & then find fantastic homes for these animals - it also costs them a lot of money! but they still do it for the love of animals. Not all pet shops are bad & a lot of them do a lot of work for animal welfare, tis not always about money.

charlie-dee

2qk4u wrote: »

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

WTF:eek:

Drivers have to pass a test to own a licence to drive a car, like-wise dog owners in this country need to be educated about dog ownership & animal welfare before owning a dog, education is key.

The Sweeper

Bond, as you say yourself, there's a huge difference between that sort of thing and puppy mill sales through stores.

Whatever about the pet store selling on rescue and recovery animals, I still believe the display of puppies in an enclosed glass case or cage is inappropriate for the animals - same goes for kittens. Especially the sort of cage that doesn't allow them anywhere to hide (that goes doubly for kittens).

comongethappy

In the states, there are many pet shops that will sell puppies

Last time I was there though, one of the new super pet shops had a specially built area - two large rooms (glass fronts), with hideaways, toys, etc - to show shoppers animals from the humane society that need homes. They were there for no longer than a week, and highlighted the need for people to rescue the animals. Anyone interested would fill out a vetting form and complete their adoption with the humane society.

I thought it was a brilliant way to encourage people to rescue, even if they didn't get the animal shown at the shop, it would probably draw there attention to getting a rescue animal from the shelter.

randomgirlinbra

I was so upset to see some of the big pet shops in Dublin selling puppies recently, also it starts this attitude of it okay to do it so more pet shops are likely to follow suit, and im sure it puts pressure on smaller shops to keep up, its not right people, dont buy from shops that are doing this and maybe theyll stop!!!

randomgirlinbra

oh, i do agree with comongethappy tho, shops doing that are doing good!
but selling puppies=NO,

Rory123

comongethappy wrote: »

In the states, there are many pet shops that will sell puppies

Last time I was there though, one of the new super pet shops had a specially built area - two large rooms (glass fronts), with hideaways, toys, etc - to show shoppers animals from the humane society that need homes. They were there for no longer than a week, and highlighted the need for people to rescue the animals. Anyone interested would fill out a vetting form and complete their adoption with the humane society.

I thought it was a brilliant way to encourage people to rescue, even if they didn't get the animal shown at the shop, it would probably draw there attention to getting a rescue animal from the shelter.

I've seen groups do stuff like this in French shopping centres and hypermarkets too.

Sigma Force

"This is not an insult to other animals or their owners but it is my opinion that dogs are just far too intelligent and emotionally advanced (unlike, for example, fish, rabbits, birds etc) to spend the first part of their life in a petshop"

Why should an animal like a rabbit not get the same due care and attention when being sold as a dog? Rabbits require company, socialisation, vacciantions, worming, neutering etc. They don't whimper and whine and paw at the cage and people in general don't understand rabbits at all is why there's no big deal made of it.

As for birds many birds are highly intelligent and many way more intelligent than a dog, they also suffer from boredom and stress and will feather pluck till the point of bleeding, they can pine, they get stressed when their owners leave, they can be destructive like a puppy or dog if bored.
Only that they are locked in a cage unlike a dog they can't do the damage a dog can do if bored so owners don't notice or find it a problem.

In my opinion puppy farms and back yard breeders should be completly banned of course but if pet shops were properly regulated then I don't see the problem in selling pups or kittens. However many shops should even be selling dog food, but there are also exceptions some shops are well run and have a lot of commen sense just wish there were more of them.

Rabbits and birds etc are just as important as dogs or cats and they all should be treated with equal respect and common sense where ever they are.
I have a bird, and he is much more needy than any dog I've ever had.

If people don't want to buy from a shop that has puppies or kittens then don't be hypocritical and buy from a shop that sells an similar animal like a rabbit that also requires a lot of what a cat would.

*Jumps off soap box*

Run_to_da_hills

I have seen it also in the states, usually with popular breeds that have a high turn over such as poodles and timber wolves. I would not like to see it take on over here.

Rory123

Guineapigrescue wrote: »

Why should an animal like a rabbit not get the same due care and attention when being sold as a dog? Rabbits require company, socialisation, vacciantions, worming, neutering etc. They don't whimper and whine and paw at the cage and people in general don't understand rabbits at all is why there's no big deal made of it.

As for birds many birds are highly intelligent and many way more intelligent than a dog, they also suffer from boredom and stress and will feather pluck till the point of bleeding, they can pine, they get stressed when their owners leave, they can be destructive like a puppy or dog if bored.
Only that they are locked in a cage unlike a dog they can't do the damage a dog can do if bored so owners don't notice or find it a problem.

In my opinion puppy farms and back yard breeders should be completly banned of course but if pet shops were properly regulated then I don't see the problem in selling pups or kittens. However many shops should even be selling dog food, but there are also exceptions some shops are well run and have a lot of commen sense just wish there were more of them.

Rabbits and birds etc are just as important as dogs or cats and they all should be treated with equal respect and common sense where ever they are.
I have a bird, and he is much more needy than any dog I've ever had.

If people don't want to buy from a shop that has puppies or kittens then don't be hypocritical and buy from a shop that sells an similar animal like a rabbit that also requires a lot of what a cat would.

*Jumps off soap box*

Nah GPR, try to remember that you're not the only person here who actually has pets, and knows about animals. Most of the people here have a good idea about animals too. I too have kept birds (15 or 20 species, from zebra-finches to senegals) and rabbits all of my life. I also have kept cats, dogs, fish, hamsters, orphaned lambs, chickens, ducks, geese, the list is endless. I have loved every animal and given it the best care I could.

Do you think that budgies, canaries and finches (the sorts of birds I was referring to), the staple birds of petshops in Ireland, are more intellegent than a dog? Have you seen many or even any large parrots such as greys or macaws for sale in petshops with that have plucked. I can tell you that I haven't, and the bird section is the first place I head for in a petshop.

I don't know as much about rabbits so I'll leave that to someone who does if they want.

It's a cockatiel you keep, right? Over the years I've had 6 cockatiels, 4 in the aviary and 2 hand-reareds indoors. Yeah they're an intellegent bird, as small australian parakeets go, but I found them to be quite emotionally dependant and no where near as intellegent as any dog I have ever kept. But hey that's just my little old opinion again! :rolleyes:

It is my opinion that you have made some outlandish, and sensational comments there, but they are not going to change my views, formed from my own life's experience of animals, that dogs are more intellegent and emotionally attached than rabbits, birds, and fish.

I enjoy having debates with people like you, even if they are heated somtimes, as it is difficult to come across people in the real world who are really into their animals.

animalcrazy

We don't need and could do without petshops selling puppies, go into your local Pound or shelter and you'll find a dog, go on done deal and see how puppies go on sale every 2-5 minutes. If all the petshops start selling puppies, that problem will increase and there will be even more homeless dogs then there is now, shelters and rescues already have to send lot's of dogs abroad to homes because there aren't enough here.

If petshops start selling puppies, more and more people will start breeding dogs, sure, wouldn't it be grand to keep a few dogs out the back, let them breed away and make a guaranted profit out of their puppies? It's just a recipe for disaster.

Our man in Havana

They are not breaking the law. Pet shops are unregulated. Who's fault is that?

I suggest you contact someone with the power to change the situation. Why don't you write to your local TD or Senator and get them to change the law. Arguing on a message board will not change a thing.

Storm_rages

interesting enough, i asked the girl behind the counter if they were allowed to sell the puppies and she said they were because they have a special licence! I'm kicking myself for not asking her to explain this.
What got my goat even more was there was a poster for the DSPCA right beside the puppy area which could of course have been placed there by the DSPCA but now i'm wondering if it was or were they being really cheeky??

The sales guy was also explaining to a customer that many breeds of dogs have complaints just within the breed (they were selling a cocker spaniel)... ehhhhh

Anyway i shall follow the advice given here and not purchase any products for my rescue dogs from there. There are enough dogs looking for homes with out people breeding more to sell. Its a small stand but what can you do.

thanks

Vel

I hope people with an interest in animal welfare begin to boycott these shops. People who decide to buy a puppy are encouraged to do research on breeders and visit the premises and meet the bitch etc. before they go ahead with their purchase but there is obviously no way this is going to happen if people are buying from pet shops. Also, what should be a well thought out decision has the potential to become a rushed spur of the moment one when people see these cute little puppies in the pet shop and we all know that poorly thought out decisions often work out badly. There really is no excuse these days for people to buy puppies like this and thus support puppy farming. There is way too much information out there for people to plead ignorance and anyone buying these puppies should be ashamed of themselves.

I too would wonder what happens to the puppies that don't get sold:(

And I wonder will the Government ever grow a pair and introduce some effective animal welfare legislation in this country, particularly something to tackle the issue of puppy farms. I remember that case last year or the year before with the yorkies in Wicklow and John Gormley made a statement condeming puppy farming at the time and now look, the Greens are in Government and have the Department of the Environment under their remit and have stilled failed to do anything. :mad:

Sigma Force

"Do you think that budgies, canaries and finches (the sorts of birds I was referring to), the staple birds of petshops in Ireland, are more intellegent than a dog? Have you seen many or even any large parrots such as greys or macaws for sale in petshops with that have plucked. I can tell you that I haven't, and the bird section is the first place I head for in a petshop.

I don't know as much about rabbits so I'll leave that to someone who does if they want.

It's a cockatiel you keep, right? Over the years I've had 6 cockatiels, 4 in the aviary and 2 hand-reareds indoors. Yeah they're an intellegent bird, as small australian parakeets go, but I found them to be quite emotionally dependant and no where near as intellegent as any dog I have ever kept. But hey that's just my little old opinion again!"

Ok calm down, never asked you to change your opinion I have yet to pass my mind altering exams.

Birds need a lot of care and many people get lone birds and their emotional state is just as important as any intelligence. If you read my post I said many birds perhaps I should of been cleared take the African Grey highly intelligent now you can disagree with me if you like I don't mind :-)

You perhaps haven't been in the same places I have I have some pet shops sell more cockatiels and larger birds than budgies and canaries which in some shops are pretty few. Also there are two places I could mention that sell birds and other animals and some of the birds have been in a bad state not all to do with feather plucking but various conditions.
I had to have words with my local shop in the town one day, budgie suffering from a very bad case of scaley face and still for sale and with the treatment for it for sale on another shelf this isn't the first problem I've had with this place.

And I do not think that others on here haven't had animals before thank you very much.

This thread is about puppys in shops at the end of the day however it's not only the animals for sale that needs to be looked at it's the state of the other animals and their housing and the advice given out etc.

charlie-dee

Bond-007 wrote: »

They are not breaking the law. Pet shops are unregulated. Who's fault is that?

I suggest you contact someone with the power to change the situation. Why don't you write to your local TD or Senator and get them to change the law. Arguing on a message board will not change a thing.

Agreed , but poeple need to be aware of the facts & this debate is making people aware.

The dept of agriculture is currently writing a new animal welfare bill -- you can submit your views about pet shops selling puppies & animal welfare in general, in writing to:

Mr Peter Fallon
Animal Health & Welfare Bill section
4th Floor
Agriculture House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2

Rory123

Guineapigrescue wrote: »

Ok calm down, never asked you to change your opinion I have yet to pass my mind altering exams.

Birds need a lot of care and many people get lone birds and their emotional state is just as important as any intelligence. If you read my post I said many birds perhaps I should of been cleared take the African Grey highly intelligent now you can disagree with me if you like I don't mind :-)

You perhaps haven't been in the same places I have I have some pet shops sell more cockatiels and larger birds than budgies and canaries which in some shops are pretty few. Also there are two places I could mention that sell birds and other animals and some of the birds have been in a bad state not all to do with feather plucking but various conditions.
I had to have words with my local shop in the town one day, budgie suffering from a very bad case of scaley face and still for sale and with the treatment for it for sale on another shelf this isn't the first problem I've had with this place.

And I do not think that others on here haven't had animals before thank you very much.

This thread is about puppys in shops at the end of the day however it's not only the animals for sale that needs to be looked at it's the state of the other animals and their housing and the advice given out etc.

OK

huggy bear 1310

seriously are you all for real.....the biggest most kept pet in the word is prob a dog .....its no ones business who sells dogs or even were they get them from ....if there is no law to selling them then whats the problem as long as they are being looked after . . as posted the D.S.P.C.A. were in to there shop number of times and all is above standerded...just because no one knows were they come from this automatically means they come from : puppy farms :...????? seriously people have you notting else to do ....

does that mean in the future people will stop going to pet shops if they sell parrots ( known to be the most intellegent animal in the world).. what do you people want a pet shop with no animals at all ??

as i said if there is no law, they are being looked after . and are above standerded of the dspca then whats the problem

Duzzie

huggy bear 1310 wrote: »

seriously are you all for real.....the biggest most kept pet in the word is prob a dog .....its no ones business who sells dogs or even were they get them from ....if there is no law to selling them then whats the problem as long as they are being looked after . . as posted the D.S.P.C.A. were in to there shop number of times and all is above standerded...just because no one knows were they come from this automatically means they come from : puppy farms :...????? seriously people have you notting else to do ....

does that mean in the future people will stop going to pet shops if they sell parrots ( known to be the most intellegent animal in the world).. what do you people want a pet shop with no animals at all ??

as i said if there is no law, they are being looked after . and are above standerded of the dspca then whats the problem

You joined up just to make that post. What is your interest in this matter?? Are you involved in the shops in question or someone who benefits from the puppy trade?? It is a strange topic to jump into in such a controvertial way as a first post.

The DSPCA has very limited resources and can only do spot checks. They cannot tell what condition these animals are being kiept in all the time. They can only see the puppies on display, not how the others atre kept nor the conditions in which the puppies were bred. Simple fact is that the puppies were not being liiked after properly. Posters have reported seeing some puppies with diarrhoea showing health problems.

Any responsible dog owner would want to know as much about where their dogs history as possible. The problem of puppy farming in this country is a major problem. Puppies beings bred in filthy conditions, dogs being overbred with no interest in their welfare and dogs being inbred resulting in genetic problems.

Animal welfare in Ireland is a serious problem. It will only become a bigger problem with the economic slow down as people find they dont have the money to look after their pets properly. The sale of puppies in shops which provides an outlet for puppy farms is wrong. Just look at how many dogs there are in dog pounds, dogs that have just been abandoned because the owners decided that they didnt want them any more. How can that be right. It may be legal but is mporally wrong if you care in any way about animal welfare.

Yes the posters on here are for real. They care about animal welfare hence the number on negative comments about the sale of puppies in shops.

Maggie.23

huggy bear 1310 wrote: »

puppy farms...?????... if there is no law, they are being looked after and are above standard of the dspca then whats the problem

The problem is that they are unregulated, it's often the case that the animals are not properly looked after, and puppy farms are for real.

Our man in Havana

The problem is that they are unregulated.

Well you know where to take that argument. The Minister, John Gromley.

it's often the case that the animals are not properly looked after

Contact the dog warden.

and puppy farms are for real.

They are real for sure. But again legislation is lacking. Gromley is you man again.

cowzerp

I am going to boycott any petshop that sells puppys in it, and when i buy in a pet shop im going to explain to them that im buying here because they dont sell puppies and they will get my business as often as i need stuff as long as they keep up the practise of not selling puppys.

huggy bear 1310

seriously what differance does it make were they come from ..if it was a puppy farmm the pups in the shops are comming from .look at the bright side they are not there any more. ..so is it wrong to get birds for a big bird breeder that has a large stock of birds ?? it doesnt matter either why i posted here for the first time this is not a trial is it ?? if there is no law to stop it and there is rules to be followed b the dspca and they are then what is the probem .... its just another thing for peope to compain about because they have very little else to do . . . i think its wrong to automatically asume that any shop sellings dogs that they get them from a puppy farm.. first at least try and prove it before complaing about it....
im sure that most pet shops get there animals from breeders so should that be wrong to sell reptiles or fish or birds from someone that has a lot of them ?? again as i said these shops are doing notting wrong notting illegal and are meeting all requirments.... why be so harsh on the shops its not them doing the farming is it......... plus i my self know 100% that some of the dogs in question did not come from farms as i know the LOCAL breeder and are by no means farmed

cowzerp

Ignorance is bliss!

Our man in Havana

And with that thread closed. We are going around in circles and getting nowhere.

Just to summarise, pet shops can sell any animals they want be it lions, tigers or bears and shock even puppies. Petshops do not need any licence or government approval to do so. Pet shops are totally unregulated.

If you are unhappy about this I suggest you contact John Gormley the Minister for the Environment and express your dissatisfaction to him.

If you see animals being kept in poor conditions contact the local SPCA or the Gardaí.